Vermont Legislators Ignore the Evidence About Marijuana

Vermont legislators are expected to take up legislation to legalize pot this month, but they should examine the evidence and stop looking at dollar signs. Marijuana causes car accidents and is known as a trigger for mental health problems and psychosis.

At least 3 others who died in Vermont this past year — Richard Tom, Joseph Marshall, Lance Magoon — were in crashes involving stoned drivers. In 2014, one third of all traffic fatalities in the state occurred because of drugged drivers, with marijuana a drug frequently mentioned in these crashes. Vermont decriminalized pot in 2013.

Hype About Pot Legalization is Like the Hype Leading to Iraq War

Back in 2003 Americans went to war believing that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The evidence wasn’t good, but the hype leading up to it was effective. Today the idea that marijuana legalization will empty our jails and take away the black market for drugs is being hyped also, leading to false ideas and flawed political strategies.

Marijuana lobbying groups supporting pot legalization promote myths like “marijuana is safer than alcohol.” Another false claim is that pot can be regulated like alcohol, even though it grows like a “weed.” Those who advocate for cannabis promote the idea that it will raise all kinds of tax money, without thinking about social costs.

States that have legalized medical marijuana have higher teen rates of pot use, except New Jersey and Illionois. They also have higher rates of other drug use. Heidi Heilman of Edventi and SAM New England noted that this chart resembles the map of Vermont. Vermont was number 1 for teen pot use in 2012, number 2 in 2013 and 2014.

In fall, 2015, a meeting of Colorado teachers concluded that student marijuana use is the #1 problem affecting their students. This assertion comes almost 3 years after legalization and 2 years after commercialization. Both the Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper called legalization reckless, and the Attorney General Cynthia Coffman called it “not worth it.”

Some states advocate for marijuana as a way to raise money without thinking of the social costs. Vermont should do some soul-searching about how early marijuana use may have influenced the state’s opiate heroin epidemic.

Source: National Institute of Drug Addiction (NIDA)

States with heavy youth pot use, Vermont, Oregon, Colorado have among the highest rates of other drug usage. Seventy percent of those who overdose begin their substance abuse with marijuana, according to studies to SAMHSA.

Problems in Department of Family Services

Over the past few years Vermont has had deaths and tragedies involving the Department of Family Services, 3 of them directly related to marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would be like “throwing fuel on the fire.” Here’s some evidence of the recent deaths related to marijuana usage in Vermont:

1) Jody Herring shot and killed a DCF worker, Lara Sobel, and three relatives, Julie Ann Falgarano, Rhonda Herring and Regina Herring. When it the case goes to trial, Jody Herring’s mental health records may be sealed. She had a lengthy arrest record and it’s certain marijuana use was a huge part of Jody Herring’s life. Since Sobel knew there were no THC pills, she knew that Herring was disturbed. The story is so unfortunate, but it’s also unfortunate that people aren’t adequately told about how dangerous marijuana is for brain health.

2) Aiden Haskins died a violent death, and it appears that the mother’s boyfriend, Joshua Blow, was responsible for the death. Blow told police he fell down the stairs while carrying Aiden as he while fetching his marijuana pipe from the basement — to take it to work with him. (Who takes marijuana to work???) Blow used multiple substances, and there’s mounting evidence that most marijuana users are multi-substance abusers, too.

Leader of SAM (Smarter Approaches to Marijuana) – Vermont, Debby Haskins recently wrote an editorial asking for more scientific evidence before legalizing pot. The deaths of 9 people directly related to using marijuana should be enough to silence the call to legalize marijuana. It would be irresponsible and foolish for the legislature to gamble on pot legalization, now or at any time.

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Tragedy Strikes the U.S. — 50 New Cannabis Related Child Deaths in 2019

PopPot.org is monitoring news reports of child deaths that have occurred since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana. Please share this information with your elected officials and law enforcement. The media has yet to pick up on this story!